News & Updates

Pour Decisions isn’t Kidding

April Fool’s Day over, isn’t it? In any case, if you haven’t seen the Heavy Table piece, check it out.  Their website has been update as well, and more importantly they’ve shared details of their flagship beers: Patersbier, described as “A crisp monk’s golden ale” and Pubstitute, “a dark Scottish session ale.” Definitely a departure from what you might expect from a new brewery and probably a smart move as well. There aren’t many Scottish Ale brewed in this market that don’t fall into the Wee Heavy/Scotch Ale gravity range. And Patersbier… I’d guess that some of you probably haven’t even heard of the style, let alone tasted an example. I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying a couple different homebrewers’ attempts at the Northern Brewer recipe designed by Kris and “Brew Like a Monk” author Stan Hieronymus. If these were any indication, I think it’s fair to say that Pour Decisions commercial product will be very good.

We wish them well. I’m looking forward to trying their beers.

Beer School In Session

This seems pretty awesome. Is credit available? More deets as they roll in.

Brought to you by Pat Fahey and Adam Schulte with support from our partners, The Happy Gnome and The Ale Jail.

Classes start May 4th, and will be held every Wednesday from 5:30 to 6:30pm at the Happy Gnome, through July 20th. May schedule coming soon!

We’ll be bringing in a different brewery each week to sample out 4-5 of their beers. Learn a little, drink a little, oh, and did we mention it’s FREE?

Here ye, hear ye! Senate Hearing on Wednesday!!

PLEASE NOTE: The hearing has been re-scheduled to Wednesday, April 6th at 5:30 pm in room 123 of the Capitol. Also the bill allowing liquor stores to sell merchandise has been added to the agenda.

Do you live in the district of a Senator who sits on the Senate Commerce Committee? Then your voice is needed! Surly is asking folks to call in and voice support for the bill that would allow them (and other breweries) to sell pints. Also on the committee’s agenda is the legislation allowing brew pubs to expand their distribution.

From the Surly Facebook page:

Surly Needs YOU! On Tuesday, April 5,Wednesday April 6 the bill to allow Surly to sell pints of our own beer at our proposed Destination Brewery, will be heard by the Senate Commerce Committee. The bill needs to pass this committee to keep moving.

We need our supporters who live in the districts of the Senate Commerce Committee members to contact them. Let them know you support SF 416 and ask them to support the bill at the April 5th hearing.

We need these 15 members to know their constituents support Surly, Minnesota craft beer, jobs and small business, so please call or email them before next Tuesday.

Find your legislator here:
http://www.gis.leg.mn/OpenLayers/districts/

Senate Commerce Committee member list here:
http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committees/committee_bio.php?cmte_id=1024&ls#members

(Click on the member’s name for their contact information)

If your Senator is NOT on the committee, don’t get surly. Keep following us here for ways you can help & have your voice heard. The hearing next week is the first step in the process. You can also attend the hearing next Tuesday at 10:30am Wednesday at 5:30 pm in Room 123 at the State Capitol.

Location and directions to the Capitol here:
http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/faq/faqtoc.aspx?subject=14

THANK YOU Surly Nation! With your help and support we can make this happen.

Belg-a-Rama on NOW!

No joke: Belg-a-Rama #5 at the Blue Nile is ON now!

What else do you really need to know? Oh yeah, the beers:

-De Ranke Noir de Dottingies, strong dark ale
-Van den Bossche Buffalo Belgian Bitter (very new!)
-The great Tripel Karmeliet from Bosteels, one of Al’s all-time favorites
-Abbaye des Rocs Grand Cru
-Two collaborative brews, Deux Brasseurs Ale, brewed by De Proef in Belgium, with Jason Perkins of Maine Allagash Brewery, and
-Ommegang’s strong Belgian, using yeast from Brasserie La Chouffee. (Al notes that this is the first exception to their “brewed in Belgium only” rule, but it is with good cause. Only a handful made it in the state, and it’s from a favorite Belgian-style American brewery, so he thought you’d excuse the exception. We do.)

This one will run Friday, April 1, through Sunday, April 9. If any of these runs out, the replacements will be two great sours from Brouwerij Bockor, Bellegems Bruin, or Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge. That’s right.